CONVENIENCE store chain Bells has beaten competition from BMW and British Gas to win a national training award.

Bells, based in the Tees Valley, won the Large Employer award at the National Modern Apprenticeship awards, organised by the Learning and Skills Council.

The 54-store chain was chosen ahead of more than 240 companies.

Winners were announced at an awards ceremony presented by Carol Vorderman, in London.

Judges said they had picked Bells because of its commitment to staff development, including the establishment of a stand-alone training comp-any.

Bells, previously family-owned, was bought by Sainsbury's and has more than 1,000 employees.

Training courses are designed for the company by its training section, with two satellite training centres and a virtual shop designed to give learners confidence in technology before coming face-to-face with customers.

The training company is run by chief executive Sheila Gibbin, a former clerical tutor.

She said: "We are very passionate about apprenticeships and have built up a strong reputation as a good company to work for, which offers excellent training. In turn, this has meant we have been able to attract good people who want to work for this company."